BRISBANE'S Hilton Hotel was evacuated this morning after a fire which broke out on the ninth floor sent smoke through the building.

QUEENSLAND'S acting coroner ignored medical evidence and favoured the testimony of an "unreliable witness" in finding a police officer killed an Aboriginal man in his custody, a court has been told.

JOURNALISTS and government whistleblowers could be sent to jail for refusing to answer questions from Queensland's corruption watchdog.

A PEDOPHILE will now be allowed to visit schools and other public places frequented by children after a judge amended his community-based supervision order.

THREE bouncers charged with the murder of a man at a Gold Coast pub in May will apply for bail later this week.

A TOP Brisbane restaurant has removed controversial duck liver dish foie gras from its menu following a public letter-writing campaign and pressure from the RSPCA.

THE number of loans taken out by home buyers fell in July, after the big commercial banks raised their variable mortgage rates independently of the central bank.

ANZ will overhaul its corporate structure and reduce middle management layers in a bid to become a "super regional bank".

AGRIBUSINESS AWB may have a smaller board when shareholders meet, probably in October, to approve a new constitution.

BUSINESS pessismists outnumbered optimists for the eighth consecutive month in August, a gloomy condidence survey shows.

RETAILERS can expect better times in 2009 after suffering a 'perfect storm of negatives' in the June quarter, a leading forecaster says.

INSURANCE companies are likely to suffer future declines in gross written premiums as the economy softens, after 20 per cent was wiped off the industry profitability in fiscal 2008.

PRIME Minister Kevin Rudd says the Australian economy is well-positioned to handle the global downturn.

A LARGE fire has broken out at Myer's city with reports of smoke billowing from the top floors of the store.

A BUCK'S party stripper who allegedly raped the best man with a sex toy has been committed to stand trial.

DRUG dealers and thieves who later became crime victims have been awarded cash for massages, counselling - even to remove tattoos.

BG Group has conceded defeat in its pursuit of Origin Energy, after the target formed a $9.6 billion joint venture with US-based ConocoPhillips to commercialise its coal seam gas resources.

SOME companies will more than double their tax benefit for spending on research and development under a policy revamp being considered by the Rudd Government to reverse the decline in business spending on the breakthroughs that will keep the Australian

A FINANCE company chaired by former Queensland premier Rob Borbidge has gone into administration and debt-laden Octaviar was on the brink of following suit last night as the Gold Coast's property sector continued to implode.

MYER bosses were hopeful their central Melbourne store will reopen for business tomorrow after 2000 people were evacuated following a fire in the flagship building today.